(By Our Amo Correspondent)
Clay township was organized as a separate corporation by an act of the board of county commissioners March 3, 1845. It was formed by separating from the north end of Franklin township three tiers of sections of land and three sections from the southeast corner of Marion township, giving an area of about 24 square miles.

The early settlements were made between the years of 1825 and 1831, principally, though the exact identity of the first settlers is not known. Among the families that came prior to 1832 were Obediah, George and John Tincher, Joel and Jesse Hodson, William Benbow, Dr. James Kersey, Newby Hunt, Edward Estes, Abram West, Nicholas Osborne and George Handcock. The poll book of the first election which was held in Springtown, August 3, 1846 gives the names of 101 voters.

Springtown is probably the oldest town in Clay township, and at the time of the completion of the Vandalia railroad in 1852, was a flourishing business village, with stores, a church, shop and nice homes. Abram West had a saw mill there and made a specialty of gray ash flooring so much in use at that time. He furnished ties for two miles of the Vandalia railroad. This road missed Springtown by about one half mile. Joseph Morris owned some of the land and laid out a town plat in 1850 which he called Morristown. This village sprang up quickly and the population was augmented by most of the inhabitants of Springtown moving their houses there. Mr. Morris built him a large house in the west part of town, procuring the lumber from one immense poplar tree which he had sawed into boards. He became the postmaster and soon learned the name of the town must be changed because there was another within the state. Miss Phoebe Lawrence, daughter of Isaac Lawrence, who was then a school girl and studying Latin, suggested the name of Amo which Mr. Morris accepted. She afterward married and is now living in Cincinnati at an advanced age.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

SON OF HENDRICKS IN INDIAN SERVICE
Carl A. Gossett has been appointed Superintendent of the Jacarilla Apache Indian reservation in New Mexico and took charge on the first day of October. Mr. Gossett was raised in Eel River township and is a son of Thomas A. Gossett, at one time county superintendent of schools in this county. Mr. Gossett attended the Central Normal College for some time and entered the Indian Service a good many years ago as a teacher in the Moqui reservation in Arizona. He was later principal of the Yauktown Boarding school in South Dakota and when that school was abolished he took up clerical work in the agency office. For several years past he has been the chief clerk at the Jacarilla reservation and now steps into the highest place on that reservation as a reward for efficient and long service. The headquarters for this reservation is Dulce, New Mexico. Those who know Mr. Gossett have no doubt of his ability to make good in his new position which is one that requires ability of a high order, as the duties involve business dealings with outside whites, school work on the reservation, welfare work among Indians and unlimited patience and good nature.

AND THEY ARE MARRIED
Mrs. Ora Trotter, so long connected with Crawley’s restaurant, asked for a few days vacation, Monday week ago, which Mr. Crawley readily granted, saying she could have a week if she wished. About the same time Bert Rowan, of the Gentry garage, was mysteriously missing for a few days. Thursday evening, both reappeared at the Crawley restaurant all togged out in their best. They were the subjects of good natured “kidding” by Mr. Crawley and bystanding friends, but were as silent as the man of the granite hills who now presides over the destinies of this Republic. “Nothing to say,” was their slogan, and they stuck to it for a few days until Mrs. Crawley, in her persuasive way, knowing the nature of “the eternal femine,” wormed the secret from the former Mrs. Trotter, now Mrs. Rowan, when she admitted that she and Bert had slipped away to Terre Haute on Monday of last week, procured a license, and found a minister who spoke the words that made them one. After receiving the congratulations of Mr. and Mrs. Crawley and other friends, Mrs. Rowan made Mr. Crawley happy by informing him that she was not going to quit him – at least, for the present. So, all are happy, and all is well that ends well, as the last picture is thrown on the screen.

VOICE FROM MISSING ONE
On May 8, 1920, Silas Strange mysteriously disappeared from his home here, without saying a word to anyone as to where he was going and nothing was heard of him until last week, when a letter came to his mother, mailed at Douglas, Wyoming, giving a detailed account of his wandering. He went first to Kansas City and tried to enlist for the World war. Being under 15 years of age they refused to take him. He then traveled through the west, working at odd jobs until he reached Douglas, Wyoming, where he has been employed for some time. Silas was the son of the later John R. Strange, who lived in and around Danville for several years. He was also a pupil at the North Center school.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

STILESVILLE GRADE TEACHER MARRIES H.S. GRADUATE
Miss Ennis Y. Justice, teacher of the third and fourth grades in the Stilesville school, and Allen F. Johnson, a member of this year’s graduating class of the Stilesville high school, were married Saturday, Rev. L.R. Gray officiating, thus marking the culmination of a thrilling romance. Their love affair attracted attention early in the school year. With the adoption of a rule that teachers should not keep company with any pupil, the truth of the statement that the course of true love does not run smoothly was again demonstrated. But it seems that another proverb, that there are exceptions to all rules, came to their assistance. Then the county superintendent found a new call for his office as he was asked to consider the matter. But Father Time proved an aid here as school was almost out. The couple consulted Mr. Reitzel about marriage and Mr. Reitzel diplomatically suggested that he had no objections provided they waited until school closed. This they did and Mr. Reitzel is considering starting a matrimonial bureau as a sub-division of his office.

MARRIED IN ILLINOIS
With her school books in her hand, Miss Georgeanna Blair left home ostensibly for school, Thursday morning. Before night, she was the bride of Henry Halfacre, of Pittsboro. He met her in Danville and they drove to Marshall, Ill., where they were married. The evening mail brought a special delivery letter to the bride’s mother, Mrs. Anna Blair, stating that by the time she received the letter she would be Mrs. Halfacre. Mr. and Mrs. Halfacre visited in Illinois until Saturday when they returned to his home at Pittsboro. Sunday, they visited in Danville. They will live with his people, Mr. and Mrs. R.T. Halfacre, for the present. He is employed in Indianapolis. Mrs. Halfacre was a member of the sophomore class, Danville high school. Mr. Halfacre graduated from the Pittsboro high school in 1920 and is 20 years of age.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

MARRIED AT GREENFIELD
Miss Helen Ader, and Fred Stewart, prominent Danville young people, were married in Greenfield on Friday, the 28th of March. The fact that they were married did not become known until this week. They have been the closest of friends for some time, and the wedding is not a great surprise to many of their friends. Miss Ader is the daughter of John Ader, and Mr. Stewart the son of Mr. and Mrs. S.R. Stewart. It seems that the couple intended to get the license at Indianapolis, but went to Greenfield to keep it out of the papers for a while. It is probable that they will make their home here.

COUNTY UNIT SCHOOL BILL
The proposed County Unit School bill, known as Senate bill No. 87, was introduced in the Senate last week. The bill provides, among other things, that the township school corporation be abandoned and that “the county be declared a municipal corporation for school purposes.” If this bill becomes a law, the township trustees will no longer have charge of the schools, but the management will be vested in five members elected for a term of four years. One of these members is to be chosen from each commissioner’s district and two at large.

These five members, who are to serve without pay, constitute the county board of education and will have entire control of all of the schools in the county, except in towns and cities that maintain their own school corporations. They will choose the county superintendent of schools […]

The present elected trustees, according to the provisions of the bill, will constitute the first county board of education and will serve until Dec. 31, 1926. The section providing that members of the county board of education serve without pay does not apply to the present trustees. They will draw salaries as heretofore allowed, but will not have direct charge of their township schools.

Should this bill become a law, within ten days after it goes into effect the present trustees are to meet and organize themselves into a county board of education and immediately each one is to “turn over and assign to the county board of education all property belonging to his school township, after which the county board of education assumes all debts and financial obligations legalized by law and legally incurred by the trustee of the school township and shall pay the same.” The county treasurer of each county shall be the treasurer of the county board of education and shall collect and keep all money separately and pay the same upon warrant from the county board of education. They shall make the treasurer a reasonable allowance for doing this extra work.

SIX GRADUATES
Six of the graduates of the Friends college at Barnesville, Ohio, are from Plainfield. Commencement Day is May 31. The class address is by Mary M. Maxwell and the other graduates from this county are Lindley M. Peacock, M. Evylin Newlin, Edith Helen Newlin, Lena M. Stanley, Theoline O. Allen.

[TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: Friends College is today known as Olney Friends School – it is a Quaker boarding school.]

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

JAMES W. WEST DIES IN NORTH DAKOTA HOSPITAL
James W. West, a former well-known citizen of Danville, died last week in Jamestown, N. Dak., of pneumonia, following an operation for the removal of gall stones. He was the son of Xury E. and Sarah A. West, deceased, of New Winchester, and was born May 29, 1858, and was in his 68th year. Deceased is survived by a son and daughter – Earl West, of Indianapolis, and Miss Marie West, of this place, and one brother, Moses C. Weset, of Anderson. At the time of his passing, the deceased had been a nurse in a hospital in North Dakota and had followed that profession for a number of years, having held similar positions in Cincinnati and Indianapolis. Before taking up nursing as a profession, Mr. West had been in business here and in Anderson. He was one of the first men to join Danville K. of P. lodge in early days, and was long active in the order. “Jim” West, as he was familiarly known, had many good qualities. He was big-hearted, of a sociable nature, liked companionship and naturally made friends.

The remains of the deceased arrived in Danville, Monday, and the funeral was held from McClelland’s undertaking parlors, Tuesday afternoon, in charge of Rev. F.H. Longwell of the Methodist church, and the K. of P. lodge. The burial was in the South cemetery. The service was an impressive and appropriate one. The son and daughter and other relatives with friends were present, all bringing their tribute of flowers to the memory of the deceased.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Entries from Hendricks County Marriage Book Volume 40 (19 November 1978 - 3 November 1979) have been added to the database Index to Hendricks County Marriage Books, which is on the Hendricks County GenWeb site. It includes the names of the bride and groom, their date of marriage and the corresponding book and page number.

This index is in progress - so far it covers the period of 1904-1979, as well as 1824-1848.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

“KIDNAPPED” AT GARY AND MARRIED IN DANVILLE
When Miss Mary Conapoetis, pretty Greek girl at Gary, was returning home from the picture show, Monday evening with her mother, an automobile containing three men dashed up to the walk. Mary was seized, thrust into the car which disappeared at terrific speed. The story was spread that there had been a mysterious kidnapping.

When Mary next appeared she was in company with Frank Fetsis, also a Greek, in the clerk’s office in Danville. Frank and Mary applied for a marriage license and Mary’s application said she lived at Brownsburg. They were married by Rev. F.H. Longwell. There was no kidnapping, just a scheme to be married, perhaps the Grecian way.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

LADY FROM PITTSBORO MARRIES GRANDFATHER’S PAL
Miss Jennie Helen Ashby, daughter of John Ashby, of Pittsboro, and Silas Hewett, of Pee Wee Valley, Ky., were married at the former home of the bride in Kentucky, says the Pittsboro correspondent of the Indianapolis News. The bride is 27 and the bridegroom, 69.

The wedding was to have taken place some days later but Miss Ashby, who was a teacher in the Indiana Girls School, resigned her position and went to Kentucky on receiving a message from Mr. Hewett that he wished the marriage to take place at once as he had been left alone by the recent death of a daughter.

The bridegroom was a life-long friend of Miss Ashby’s grandfather and on the latter’s death last year served as administrator of the estate of which Miss Ashby was an heir.

Friday, June 17, 2011

HENDRICKS COUNTY SON RECEIVES HIS DEGREE
Robert R. Blake, son of Mr. and Mrs. George R. Blake, of Lizton, received the degree of Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the School of Theology of Boston University, Monday. President A. Lawrence Lowell, of Harvard, delivered the commencement address and 1,000 degrees were awarded. An academic procession, marking a brilliant spectacle, preceded the commencement ceremonies. No honorary degrees were given. Pres. Daniel L. Marsh of the university presented the diplomas. The exercises came as the culmination of a week of senior events and alumni reunions.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Entries from the surname index included at the front of Hendricks County Probate Order Book Volume 5 (29 September 1868 - 17 June 1871) have been added to the database Surname Index to Hendricks County Probate Order Books, which is on the Hendricks County GenWeb site. The surname index was compiled by the clerk at the time they were writing the entries. It includes the subject of the probate case, the type of case (estate, guardianship, etc.), and the corresponding book and page number.

It is an ongoing project - currently the surname index covers the years 1868-1889.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Entries from the 1951 and 1952 school years have been added to the database Hendricks County Students Attending Indiana Colleges, which is on the Hendricks County GenWeb site. It is a listing of some of the students from Hendricks County who were either attending or graduating from various colleges in Indiana, as compiled from information sent by college officials to area newspapers. The list was comprised of the student's name, hometown and class, and sometimes included their major or the degree they were receiving.

The colleges that submitted information to the newspapers varied from year to year. Ball State University, Butler University, DePauw University, Earlham College, Indiana State University, Indiana University and Purdue University are among those who submitted information at one time or another.

The database is an ongoing project. It currently covers the period of 1944-1961.